Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula
(c) Alan Vernon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Onagraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula is a native California herb in the Onagraceae family, recognized by pressed-flat hairs, red-dotted petals, shorter fruit stalks.
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidul is a California native annual found in southeastern Inyo and northeastern Imperial counties in desert flats and desert pavement environments at elevations of 70 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate petals 7 to 12 millimeters long, generally marked with distinctive red dots. Growing with strigose stems that have short, appressed hairs, the plant develops compact form across dry desert landscapes. Its leaves and stems are covered in fine, closely pressed hairs, giving the plant a distinctive grayish-green appearance. The mature fruit reaches 20 to 42 millimeters long, supported by short pedicels 2 to 10 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are pressed-flat hairs, red-dotted petals, shorter fruit stalks
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry flats, desert pavement, generally with
Elevation: 70-1100 m
California counties: Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial
Outside California: to southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona
Bloom period
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Eremothera: Chylismia has yellow flowers; Eremothera has white, pink, or red flowers that open at night.; vs Camissonia: Chylismia leaves are mostly basal and dandelion-like; Camissonia has narrow leaves up the stem.; vs Camissoniopsis: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Camissoniopsis has lance-shaped leaves along the stem.; vs Eulobus: Chylismia has basal dandelion-like leaves; Eulobus has elegant wand-like stems with red-flecked petals.; vs Oenothera: Chylismia has dandelion-like basal leaves; Oenothera is typically a robust tall plant with 4-lobed stigma.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula native to California?
Yes. Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula bloom?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula grow?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula occurs in Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, at elevations of 70-1100 m.
What plant family does Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula belong to?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula is in the Onagraceae family, genus Chylismia.
What habitat does Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula grow in?
Chylismia brevipes subsp. pallidula grows in dry flats, desert pavement, generally with.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.